How does information make its way across the internet, through hundreds of computers to the right destination? How does a search engine find the web page you want amongst billions of possibilities in a fraction of a second?

Computers are extraordinary machines, able to perform feats of arithmetic that far exceed the capabilities of any human. So why is a 3 year old toddler better at recognising everyday objects than the world's most powerful supercomputer?

The Series

In the mid 1820s Michael Faraday, a former Director of the Royal Institution, initiated the first Christmas Lecture series, finding new and innovative ways of bringing science to young people. The Christmas Lectures have since continued annually, stopping only during World War II, and have become something of a UK Christmas tradition.

This year, Professor Christopher Bishop will be taking us on fast-paced Hi-tech Trek through the fascinating world of computer science.